Remembering a Father’s Legacy: Inaugural 2014 Lynn Simons Memorial Futurity

By: Brittany Bevis

December 6th, 2005 is a date many will remember as the day the Paint Horse industry lost an icon, mentor, husband, father, and friend, Lynn Simons. Now, nearly nine years after his untimely passing, his daughters, Jana and Sara, are hard at work carrying on the lasting legacy of their father’s name.

With help from industry veterans like Jennifer Sheriff and Tim Finkenbinder, Jana Simons is well underway organizing sponsorships and generating interest for the inaugural Lynn Simons Memorial Futurity that will take place at the World Wide Paint Horse Congress, July 30-August 3, 2014.

“We’ve never done anything like this,” Jana says. “It probably wouldn’t have happened without Jennifer Sheriff and Tim Finkenbinder.”

“After my father passed away, Sara and I sold most of the halter horses. We just didn’t feel like we could carry on doing it without him. Jennifer and Tim brought the idea to me in a way that we could do something to benefit the Paint Horse industry, to get more interest in halter horses, and to do something nice to honor my father.”

When first approached with the idea of hosting the inaugural Lynn Simons Memorial Futurity, WWPHC show management was more than thrilled to participate. With the new location of the show being in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jana hopes to generate more interest from halter horse enthusiasts across the central US.

“The Congress was very receptive and 100% on board from day 1,” Jana says. “For Sara and I, this is a very special deal. Casey West [Congress Chairman] was really receptive to the idea. He is a halter horse person, so he knows how it could help the Paint Horse industry. He has been really positive about the deal, and the Congress seems like a great place to have it.”

For the first year of this Futurity, there will be very limited restrictions. The event will be sanctioned by WCHA. Classes available in 2014 will be Non Pro Yearling Mares, Non Pro Yearling Geldings, Non Pro Yearling Stallions, and Champion of Champions Open Yearling Horse. Both Regular Registry and Solid Paint Bred horses are eligible to show.

The Champion of Champions class will have a maximum of 12 horses. Those eligible will be the Congress Overall Champion and Reserve Overall Champion from the Regular Registry Open and Solid Paint Bred Open Yearling Mares, Geldings, and Stallion classes at the horse show.

“Jennifer and Tim were strongly of the opinion that we needed to gear the Futurity towards non pros,” Jana says. “I felt we needed to have something for open competitors, so that’s why we will be pulling Champions and Reserve Champions for the Champion of Champions open class.”

“We really want to have a lot of goodies to give out to everyone. We’re not turning anyone, who wants to help, away. We started [promoting] about a week ago when the Congress gave us approval. Everyone we have asked so far has said they would help, and we hope to raise more money through sponsorships. This is not for anyone to make money. All of the money will go back into payouts and prizes. We’ve only asked a handful of people and everybody has been on board so far.”

Those interested in becoming a sponsor for the 2014 Lynn Simons Memorial Halter Futurity may contact Jana Simons at 940-367-5652 or visit the Futurity’s Facebook page by clicking here. The Equine Chronicle is proud to be a sponsor of this inaugural event.

In closing, a very emotional Jana spoke about her father, not as an industry icon, but simply as a dad.

“There are so many people who want to tell me stories about my dad,” she says. “For the longest time, I didn’t want to hear it… But, now it’s wonderful to know that he touched so many people’s lives. I ask myself, ‘why did he have to go?’ But, I was lucky enough to have him for 22 years. Some people don’t ever have the opportunity to have someone that amazing.”

“He made his living in the halter horse industry for 30 years. I think he would love this. For me, that’s the most important part; this is something he would really love.”